418 TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
lions in tlie tissues which are the results of those fermen¬ 
tations already accomplished. I4th. The harmlessness of the 
sulphites permits their administration in considerable large 
doses without producing the slightest functional disturbance 
in the viscera; and also to administer them in virtue of their 
specific action on the ferments as a meansof exploration in grave 
or sus[)icious cases. 15th. Whenever in the course of a regular 
inflammatory affection the ataxia of the symptoms sets in, then 
the treatment by the sulphites is indicated ; it simplifies the 
malady, and rids it of its fermentative complications, which the 
efficacy of the remedy enables us to a[)preciate more accu¬ 
rately. loth. The reductive or disoxidative power of the sul¬ 
phites, and of the hyposulphites in the organic system, by virtue 
of which they change the secretions into a state of superior 
oxidation, must not be lost sight of. Their antiphlogistic effects 
ought to encourage the medical practitioner to employ them 
in catalytic affections even in the presence of some irritation 
or an inflammation; but this ought also to embolden us to 
have recourse to them as remedies endowed with great efficacy 
in genuine inflammatory affections. 17th. The redness, the 
dryness, the excoriations of the tongue, and even the fibrinous 
oxydation, and the fuliginous coating on the gums, do not 
counter-indicate the use of the sulphites, for these symptoms 
disappear in proportion as the remedy arrests the morbid 
fermentations of which they are the consequence. I8th. The 
sulphite of magnesia in the solid state is preferable to any of 
the others for internal administration, as it has no odour, 
very little taste, and is not liable to change by exposure to 
the air, and, notwithstanding these properties, contains, as 
compared with the other sulphites, a greater proportion of 
sulphureous acid. 19 th. The sulphite of soda, which effervesces 
on exposure to the atmosphere, and has a strong, disagreeable, 
sulphureous taste, and is very soluble, is better adapted for 
injection or external application. 20th. The sulphite of 
])otash has an unpleasant taste, and soon alters when exposed 
to the air, even when in a solid state, and the sulphite of 
ammonia, which has a still more disagreeable taste, added to 
a great alterability on exposure, does not suit internal adminis¬ 
tration, but is very useful for external application in solution; 
particularly in cases of wounds which have an unhealthy 
appearance. 21st. The hyposulphite of soda ma}’^ in many 
cases be substituted for the sulphite of magnesia ; its taste is 
tolerable, and it has a solubility which recommends it; its 
antifermentative virtue is, however, inferior to that of the 
sulphite; at all events, it is much slower in action, as it only 
becomes effective after being converted into sulphite. Its best 
indication is as a prophylactic; in fact, it contains double the 
